Balance of Trade came out in February 2004, Trade Secret in November 2013, and Fair Trade in May 2022.
Despite this spread — 9 years between each title; 18 between the first book and the third — they hang together remarkably well, tracing Jethri Gobelyn from unwanted youngest aboard Looper ship Gobelyn’s Market to a trader with both Terran and Liaden credentials, who achieved what no other Terran had done to date — crossed over to the Liaden side of trade, learned the culture, the language, and the method, ‘prenticed to, then adopted by, Master Trader Norn ven’Deelin of the great Liaden tradeship Elthoria, who is herself something of a force of nature.
Jethri’s story is set about 200 Standards back from the “present day” Liaden stories, at a time when Terrans and Liadens are even less easy with each other than they are “now.” The culture clash is believable; Jethri is himself likeable, and by necessity a quick study, as Master ven’Deelin has no hesitation at all about throwing him into the deep end of the pool, and telling him that she expects to him to present himself, dry and dressed, at a diplomatic dinner in two hours, ship-time.
I like the characters, especially the master traders — Master ven’Deelin and her friend and (one gathers) frequent ally in consternation, Rantel pin’Aker. I especially like Master pin’Aker’s trade persona, and his simple delight in bestowing his “little surprises.”
And I especially like that Jethri is starting to take a firm grip on his life and act from his own necessities.
For the good, of course, of the trade.
What a great teaser for those who are yet to meet Jethri and Master ven’Deelin! Thank you again for taking up their story.
I greatly enjoyed rediscovering Jethri’s arc and, much as I also love Padi, am delighted there is another Jethri book coming.
I was curious, regarding a minor bit of Fair Trade. Was the stoHelit wine a nod to the Terry Pratchett books involving Susan?
Of course it was.
I liked Jethri. A kid so focus on trade that he fails to realize the deep waters until he finds himself in the middle of them. What I really enjoyed was seeing the distortion of culture that existed. Master ven’Deelin recognize the deep water and was determined to make sure Jethri learned how to navigate them. The benefit of her teaching can be seen in Trade secret and in Fair Trade. Jethri was a great honor to his teacher.
I have liked Jethri too, and especially dealing with the Uncle. It would definitely be interesting to find out more about the Uncle himself … … themself? Themselves? Especially information from the old universe. It strikes me that it would probably, of necessity, be a different style of story since the Uncle is a different style of character.
And I’ve written all of the above, and still can’t resist commenting that that is definitely the book cover I like the least.
I first read Balance of Trade in 2017, and enjoyed it very much. It reminded me of Conflict of Honors, in that both books have a group of likable characters who help each other, and both books made me happy as I read them. Re-read it last year, and, if anything liked it better still.